Trap



Patented `lan.4 liti, i923.

rn im: 'www wp et. li in la i t LEOPOLD C. SCHNEIDER, OF GLENSIDE, PENNSYLVANXA.

Application led June 8,

T Zlio/1011i it may connor-n,

Be it known that l, lmorono C. SCHNEL min, a Citizen ot' the llnited States, and a resident oi" ilenside, in the county ot Montgomery and State o'lE lennsylviniia. have invented certain new and useful lmprovenients in Traps, ot which the tollen ing is a speoiiication. re'iierenre being;` had to the accompanying' drawings.

Among the principal objects o'l" my invention is to provide an animal trap et rompact 'torni and simple construrtion comprisingv a double spring'. that is.r a spring simultaneously cooperative with both sides of the jaws, which may be manufactured in all the usual commercial sizesi s hitherto the employment of a double spring` in the usual 'forms of traps has been restricted to the larger sizes. it having been found impracticable to utilize such springs in the smaller' sir/ed traps. lily invention 'further contemplates the employment ot two springs in superposed relation and adapted when the trap is sprung to simultaneously move in opposite directions, thereby effecting a very rapid and etiective Closure ot the jaws, said springs being` unconnected with each other but securely maintained in the requisite `operative relation by a novel form of retaining; means.

Still4 'turther objects oi my invention are to provide an animal trap in which the means operative to hold the jaws ot' the trap in open or set position are greatly simplilied over the meanshitherto employed for that purpose and in which the dog' carried by and movable with the pan or pedal is directly cooperative with the jaw, therelw entirely eliminating the use oit the usual overhangz'ino; trigger, and to provide a trap in which both jaws are mounted on the saine pivots and revolve about the saine axis therein; permitting' one jaw to be folded over on the other and secured in ifonvenieiit position tor the transjjiortation et the trap as hereina'lter more fully explained.

i ly invention iurther contemplates the general simpliication ot' traps and the component n: ts thereoil and the arrangement et the .rions elements so as to minimize the pos ,ihiiity of the trap becoming; inoperative through freezing or the accumulation ot' snow or other foreign matter; the arrangement of the several parts so as to t'a- 'cilitate the setting ofthe trap and 'the de- TRAP.

1921. Serial lilo. 475,863.

signingv thereof in such manner as to lend to economical manufacture and negative as 'tar as possible lialiili y ot breakage or disarrang'elnent through rough or careless lunulliiro` under conditions of use.

My invention further` includes all ot the other various objects and novel ieatures ol construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified Yand described, and in certain respects constitutes an improvement upon the trap 'lforming the subject ot an application Yfor Letters Patent ot' the United States `Serial No. f-l--lLiG tiled liv me liebruary l, 192i. l

in the accompanying drawings l have illustrated a preferred embodiment of mv invention. liig'. l being' a plan view of the trap in open or set position and Fig. 2 a4 view thereo't' in end elevation. Fig'. 3 is a view in end elevation ot'- the trap in sprung' position and Fig'. a similar view partially in central vertical section and partially in elevation. while 5 is a top plan view with the tree jaw folded down upon the other jaw into a convenient position for carrying, the ring; at the end of the trap chain beine' slipped over the jaws and springs to hold 'the former in plaee against the compr on o't' the sjn'infzs irrespective of the position et the detent dog Carried by the pan or pedal and Fig. G is a view in vertical seotion substantially on the line 5,36 in Fig'. 5 looking' in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail perspective `view showing certain elements oit the trap prior to assembling and Figs. 8 and 9 are 'fragmentary perspective detail views showingA slightly nniidiiied manners o't' constructing certain ot the parts. Like numerals are used to designate correspondinel parts in the several tig'ures.

inthe Vlorin shown in the drawings the trap comprises a pair o'lt vonipleinentary oppositclv r'lisposed jaws f2 and .73 the toriner heine; hereinafter referred to as the free jaw. rihese jaws may be oi" any suitable it'orin for example substantially ai ss'hovvin 'that is` relatively straightat the middle and 3 ,nre curved inwardly in opposite directiong to jjorm substantially parallel ends.

ends of one ot the jaws. tor e-:ainjrile the iree jaw. are outwardly oli'set and the ends of the other jaw inwardly otfsehwhile the several ends are provided with suitable apertures Jfor the passage oit' ln'n'izontalljvf disposedpivots 5 and 6 which also extend through suitable apertures in the upper, preferably transversely flattened ends of the jaw supports 7 and S, the ends of the pivots being headed over or other means employed to prevent longitudinal displacement of the pivots. It will be evident that the offsetting of the jaws adjacent the pivots is ell'ective to permit the main portion of the jaws to rest in alignment with each other when the jaws are closed as in Figs. 3 and 4 while permitting the free jaw to be folded over on top of the other jaw into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 when desired.

rl`he pivot supports are positioned adjacent and carried by the outer ends of the lower spring 10 which is formed of spring steel or other tempered sheet metal ordinarily by a stamping or similar operation and is preferably generally crescent shape in planary outline so as to follow in a general way the configuration of the jaws although of con siderably greater transverse width at any given point than is the jaw at a corresponding point. The pivot supports are rigidly secured to the spring preferably by extending a portion of each support through an laperturein the spring and heading it over on the under side thereof, or if desired instead of heading over such portion of the support it may be provided with threads and a nut threaded thereon and drawn up against the under side of the spring as shown in Fig. 9, thus facilitating the removal of the support if required.

Positioned above the lower spring 10 is an upper spring 12 preferably substantially similar to the lower spring in planary outline and similarly formed of spring steel or other tempered sheet metal, the outer ends of this spring being provided with orifices 13 and 141 through which the jaws extend, the size of these orifices being such that their opposite edges will engage the outer sides or edges of the aws when the trap is sprung and the spring in its normal or relaxed po- Sition as best shown in Fig. Il, the width of the milices being` sufficient to permit them to readily pass over the extremities of the pivots 5 and G during the operation of setting the tra p as well as during the closing movenient of the jaws. Preferably in order to provide sufficient metal adjacent the orifices the spring is widened in their vicinity and if desired the lower spring 10 may be correspondingly widened in the vicinity of the pivot supports. The upper spring is flared or curved upwardly from its center toward its ends and the lower spring correspondingly curved or flared downwardly from its center toward its ends so that when the springs in the assenibled trap are in normal yorvrelaxed position they will rest upon each .v other at a point 15 adjacent their extreme rear edges while their forward or free ends i will be relatively widely separated as in extending outwardly from the rear edges thereof. rlhe lug 20 on the lower spring is directed slightly angularly downward from the pla-ne of the center of the spring and the lug 21 on t-he upper spring correspond ingly Ydirected angularly upward in such manner that when the trap is being assembled the lugs may be brought together in substantially parallel relation and inserted through the slot 19 to partially project be- `yond the rear face of the lug 17. rIhe free ends of the springs are then moved toward each other until they attain substantially the position shown in Figs. 3 and t after which the jaws are passed through the apertures 13 and 14: and secured to the pivot sup ports, thereby bringing the lower and upper surfaces of the lugs 2O and 21 respectively against the lower and upper edges of the slot 19, the oppositely angular disposition of the lugs thereafter preventing the springs from becoming disengaged from the base so long as the jaws remain secured to the pivot supports and thereby prevent a sul'licient separation of the free ends of the springs to permit the withdrawal of the lugs from the slot.

The base 18, which is preferably made of sheet metal, is conveniently directed anguvlarlv upward and rearward from the bottom of the lug 17 for a suitable distance and thence rearwardly to terminate at any convenient pointy this base serving as a support for the pan pivot lug 22 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the base at a suitable distance in front of the lug 17 and preferably on the center line of t-he trap.

llleans are jirovided for holding the jaw 3 in substantially parallel relation with the compressed springs when the trap is set said means conveniently comprising a detent dogr 24 preferably formed integral with the ban or poda and preferably cooperatire directly with the jaw 2L the position of the dog being controlled by the position of the pau or pedal on which the animal steps to spring the trap. The pedal and dog` are pivotally supported in any suitable way upon the pivot support 22, preferably by providing a pair of forwardly and downwardly extending, laterally spaced ears 29 conveniently formed integral with the pan llo lill) and dog and adapted to extend on each side of the pivot support 22, to which the ears are movably connected by a transversely eX- tending pivot 30, the position of the .pivot with relation to the .dog and the inner edge of the jaw. 3 being such that when the aw is depressed to set position the end of the deg may be engaged with the edge of the jaw to retain the jaw 'therein against the resistance ofthe springs until a pressure is applied to the' pan sufiicient to move the ears slightlyabout the pivot and release the dog from engagement with the jaw. It will of course be understood that the several parts just describedv areso proportioned and adjusted that arelatively slight pressure on the pan is sufficient to release the dog and that while I prefer to utilize a jaw of substantially V-shaped transverse section such as is more fully described and claimed in my said application Serial No.

` latll filed February 1, 1921 and to arrange the dog to engage the inner edge of the jaw as shown, that other forms of jaws may be employed if desired, in which case the dog will preferably be arranged to engage any convenient point thereof Ito hold the jaw in set position. If desired, instead of forming the ears integrally with the pan, they may be formed separately therefrom and rigidly secured thereto by a rivet 31 or in any other suitable manner, as shown in F 8. l

For `the purpose of securing the trap to a log, stake or the like I preferably pro-vide the same with a chain 35 attached at one end to the trap by means of swivel 86 which extends through an'aperture in the lug 17 and is headed over on the inner side of the lug, the other end of the chain being provided with a ring 37 of a suitable diameter to be slipped over the free ends of the springs and for a considerable distance up over the jaws when the free jaw is folded over upon the other jaw and the latter is -in set position as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, when desired, the jaw 3 may be depressed into set position and the dog 24 engaged therewith, after which the free jaw 2 Vmay be folded over against the jaw 3 and both jaws secured in position by slipping thering over them and the springs. The trap may in this manner be reduced to very compact form for' transportation or shipment and all danger of injury to the operator prevented, fori even though the pedal be struck and the dogthus released from the jaw the engagement of 'the ring with the jaws and springs serves to limit relative movement-.between these parts and restrainsthe jaws-from Beelden-1 tally' springing up toclosed 'posit-ion, This feature is onerof marked importance espa eially'in the ease of trap'sof large size thesprings of which are so powerful as 'to re'- quire some means other than manual for their compression in setting the trap, thus making it vnecessary in the forms of traps generally in use at the present time to carry to the place where the trap is to be set some form of mechanical means for setting it. lith my improved trap, however, this difficulty is obviated for the trap may be set by the use of any suitable mechanical means at any convenient point, the free jaw folded down, the ring slipped into position to hold the jaws and spring together and the trap then transported without danger to the operator to the place where it is to be set, after which Vthe ring can be moved, the free jaw folded back to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the trap thus placed in condition for use.

It will be observed that in the operation of setting the trap which may be conveniently performed (unless some form of mechanical coi'i'ipressing means is required due to the size of the trap) by laying the trap on a smooth surface on which it will be supported by the outer ends of the lower spring 10 and the portion of the base adjacent the lug 17 and then depressing the upper spring with the feet until the lower jaw 3 can be folded down substantially parallel with the springs and the dog brought into engagement therewith, the springs are in reality caused to approach each other by respective movements through substantially similar .arcs until when the trap is set they are in contact or nearly in contact over substantially their whole area. Conversely, when the trap is sprung the springs move apart in opposite directions, the upper spring traveling up along the jaws and the lower spring simultaneously pulling the jaws down through the apertures in the upper springs, Athe contact of the sides of the apertures with the edges of the jaws forcing the jaws` together until they are brought into Contact with each other or with some object, such as the foot of an animal, positioned between them. ln either case since the plane of the upper spring at its point of contact with the jaws is, when the latter are closed or nearly closed, substantially at right angles to the general direction in which the sides of the jaws extend, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to open the jaws by pulling them apait without a simultaneous depression of the spring, so that the chance of ain animal caught in the trap beingable to pry the jaws apart suiiiciently to release its foot is substantially` eliminated. v'Moreoven owing to the simultaneous movement .of

separationof the springs in opposite directions whenthetrap 1s sprung` a very rapid closure of the jaws is effected and as there 'j is `no trigger extending over either of the jaws, as is. the'ca-'se in many forms of traps, the closing' movement is entirely ummpeded, so that no matter how or from what direction the animal steps on the pan the operation ot' the trap is the same and the liability oit the animals foot being thrown out by thev forcible displacement of the trigger, which is constantly present in the forms of traps in which the trigger is employed, is entirely obviatcd. Additionally, since the springs are maintained in operative position without the use oi rivets or other means which might tend to weaken the springs, the likelihood olf spring breakage is minimized and as all of the parts are oit 'the simplest liorm and can in most instances be ina-nntacturedv by a stamping operation the several parts of the trap may be constructed at a relatively low cost and readily assembled without excessive labor.

llVhile l have herein described with considerable particularity a preterred embodiment oi1 my invention, l do not thereby desire or intend. to limit myself to any prespaced ends operatively positioned one above the other. means including' an integra.L portion of each spring' for maintaining said sj'irinnjs in operatively assembled relation, one ot said springs beine adapted to support said jaws and the other' ot said springs havin;v openings through which said jaws are arranged to extend, and releasable means lior holding;- one ol said jaws in lixed position against the compression oi"- said springs.

2. In an animal trap. he con'ibination of a pair oi" substantially crescent shaped springs capa-ble of relative movement in opposite directions positioned one above'the other, means tor holding said springs in Voperatively assembled relation. and a pair oli complementary jaws extendinjr through apertures in the uppermost springY and pivotally supported on the lower sprinj.

3. Ain animal trap comprising a pair of substantially crescent shaped springs capable ot' relative movement in opposite directions positioned one aboveJ the other, means includingan integral portion ot each spring for holding said springs in operatively assembled relation, a Apair of complementary jaws extendingT through apertures in 4the uppermost spring; and pivotally supported on vthe lower spring, and releasah-lev means tor retaining,- one of said jaws in substantially parallel relation with said springs when in a state of compression.

d. ln an animal trap, the combination or" a pair ot substantially crescent shaped springs positioned one above the other, said springs normally contacting at their centers and respectively Haring upwardly and downwardly theretrom, means tor retaining Said springs in operatively assembled relation, and a pair of complementary jaws supported on one ot said springs and extending through apertures in the other o'" said springs,

5. ln an animal trap, the (izombination ot a pair of springs positioned one above the other, each spring` provided with a rearwardly extending lugl a basev comprising an upwardly extending` lug` having a slot adapted to receive the lugs on said springs, and a. pair of complementary jaws supported on the lowernr'ost spring` and extending` through apertures in the uppermost- G. An animal trap comprising` a pair ot substantially crescent shaped springs positioned one above the other and each provided with a rearwardly extending' lug, the uppermost spring normally flaring upwardly from adjacent its lug toward its tree ends and the lowermost spring normally iaring' downwardly Jfrom its lug toward its treeends, a base comprising` an upwardly extending lug having' a slot adapted to receive the lugs on said springs, a pair of complementary jaws supported on the lowermost spring` and extending;` through apertures in the uppermost spring, and releasable means for holding one of said jaws in fixed position against the compression ot said springs when the free ends thereof are compressed together,

T. In an animal trap, the combination ot a pair of substantially crescent `shaped springs disposed one above the other and normally flaring in opposite directions, each ot said springs. having a rearwardly extending lug ane' lafly disposed with respect to the plane ot the spring adjacent thelugg, a base provided with transversely extendin slot adapted to receive the lugs on said. springs, and a vpair of complementary jaws pivotally supported on. the lowermost spring adjacent the Ytree ends thereof and extendinp; through apertures in the uppermost spring.

S. An animal trap coniprisini;- a. pair of substantially crescent shaped sprii disposed one above the other, said springs normally contacting near their centers and re.- spectivelj7 Haring in opposite directions from their point ot'contact,- each of said springs having a rearwardly extending lug angularly disposed with respect to theplane or' the 'spring adjacent thelug, a base'hava lug provided with a transversely'exllO tending slot adapted to receive the lugs on said springs, a pair of complementary jaws pivotally supported on the lowermost spring adjacent thefree ends thereof and extending through apertures in the uppermost spring, and releasable means for holding one of said jaws in fixed position against the compression of said springs when said springs are compressed together and comprising a pivoted dog directly cooperative with said aw.

9. An animal trap comprising a pair of substantially crescent shaped springs disposed one above the other, said springs normally contacting near their centers and having their free ends flared in opposite directions, each of said springs having a rearwardly extending lug angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the spring adjacent the lug, a base having a lug provided with a transversely extending slot. adapted to receive the lugs on said springs, a pair of complementary jaws pivotally supported on the lowerinost spring adjacentthe free ends thereof and extending through apertures in the uppermost spring, and releasable means for holding one of said jaws in fixed position against the compression of said springs when said springs are compressed together and comprising a movable pan pivotally supported on the base between the ends of said springs and a dog movable with said pan and adapted to directly engage said jaw.

10. An animal tiap comprising a pair of separate springs each having spaced ends, means for supporting said springs in operative position one above the other, a pair of complementary jaws extending through apertures in one of said springs and pivotally supported on the other of said springs. and releasable means for holding one of said jaws in fixed position against the compression of said springs, said springs being operative when said means are released to simultaneously7 move in opposite directions whereby the topmost spring moves upwardly with respect to said jaws and the lowermost spring carrying said jaws moves said jaws downwardly through the topmost spring.

11. In an animal trap, the combination of a pair of substantially crescent shaped springs normally extending in angular rela.- tion with each other, means for holding said springs in operatively assembled relation one above the other comprising a lug on each spring and a base having a slot adapted to receive said lugs, and a pair of jaws pivotally supported on one of said springs and extending through the other 0f said springs.

12. An animal trap comprising a pair of substantially crescent shaped springs normally extending in angular relation with each other, means for holding said springs in operatively assembled relation one above the other comprising a lug on each spring and a base having a slot adapted to receive said lugs, a pair of' jaws pivotally supported on one of said springs and extending` through the other of said springs, and means to releasably hold one of said jaws in fixed position against the compression of said springs, said other jaw being adapted to be folded down on said first mentioned jaw or turned away therefrom into substantially parallel relation therewith and with said springs when the trap is set.

13. An animal trap comprising a pair of substantially crescent shaped springs, means for holding said springs in operatively assembled relation one above the other with their free ends normally flaring in opposite directions and comprising a lug on each spring and a base having a slot adapted to receive said lugs, a pair of jaws pivotally supported on one of said springs and extending through the other of said springs, means to releasably hold one of said jaws in fixed position against the compression of said springs, said other jaw being adapted to be folded down on said first mentioned jaw, and means adapted to be engaged over both of said jaws and said compressed springs to hold said jaws when folded on each other and said 'springs in relatively fixed position independently of said dog.

14. In an animal trap, the combination of a pair of substantially crescent shaped springs respectively flared in opposite directions from their centers toward their ends, a pair of jaws pivoted on one of said springs and extending through the other said jaws being adapted to be folded down into substantially parallel relation with said springs 3T3 when said springs are compressed together,

and means adapted to be engaged over said springs and said jaws operative to limit relative movement between said jaws and said springs.

15. In an animal trap, the combination of a pair of separate substantially crescent shaped springs positioned one above the other, flared in opposite directions and noi'- mally contacting at a single point; a lug extending outwardly from the major portion of each spring, a base having an opening adapted to receive said lugs, and a pair of i jaws pivotally mounted on one spring and extending through apertures in the other, engagement of the sides of the apertures with said jaws limiting the possible movement of separation of said springs whereby said lugs are operatively retained in said slot.

16. In an animal trap, the combination of a pair of complementary springs positioned one above the other and each provided with a rearwardly extending lug, the uppermost spring normally flaring upwardly from adjacent its lug toward its free ends and the lowermost spring normally flaring downwardly from adjacent its lug toward its 'tree ends, a base comprising an upwardly extending lug having an opening adapted to receive the lugs on the springs, and a pair of Complementary jaws supported on the lowermost spring and extending through apertures in the uppermost.

17. In an animal trap, the combination of a pair of substantially crescent shaped springs, means for maintaining said springs in operatively assembled relation one above the other, a pair of aws pivoted on one of said springs and extending through the other, said jaws being adapted' to be folded down into substantially parallel relation with the Springs when the latter are C0111- pressed together, and means adapted or engagement over the springs and the when so folded to limit relative movement therebetween.

In witness whereof7 I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of June, A. D. 1921. LEOPOLD C. SCHNEIDER. 

